Bonfield hit him over the head with his club and knocked him down. He also hit him twice after he had fallen. I was standing about six feet from them when, the assault occurred. I don't know the man that was clubbed—never saw him before nor since.
Jesse Cloud, 998 Monroe street:
On the morning of July 3, 1885, about 7 o'clock, as I was standing on the southeast corner of Madison street and Western avenue, I saw Bonfield walk up to a man on the opposite corner, who was apparently looking at what was going on in the street. Bonfield hit him over the head with his club and knocked him down. Some men who were near him helped him over to the drug store on the corner where I was standing. His face was covered with blood from the wound on his head, made by Bonfield's club, and he appeared to be badly hurt. A few moments later, as I was standing in the same place almost touching elbows with another man, Bonfield came up facing us and said to us, "stand back," at the same time striking the other man over the head with his club. I stepped back and turned around to look for the other man; saw him a few feet away with the blood running down over his face, apparently badly hurt from the effect of the blow from Bonfield. There was no riot or disorderly conduct there at that time except what Bonfield made himself by clubbing innocent people, who were taking no part in the strike. If they had been there for the purpose of rioting they would surely have resisted Bonfield's brutality.
I affirm that the above statement is a true and correct statement of facts.
H. J. Nichols, 47 Flournoy street:
On the morning of July 3, 1885, I was driving up Madison street just coming from Johnson’s bakery, on Fifth avenue. When I got to the corner of Market and Madison streets, I met the care coming over the bridge. On looking out of my wagon I saw Bonfield by the side of a car. He snatched me from my wagon and struck me on the head, cutting it open, and put me in a car leaving my wagon standing there unprotected, loaded with bakery goods all of which were stolen, except a few loaves of bread. I was taken to the Desplaines street station and locked up for about ten hours. I was then bound over for not, in $500 bail, and released. During the time I was there I received no attention of any kind, though my head was seriously cut. Julius Goldzier, my lawyer, went to Bonfield with me before the case was called in court, and told him I had dope nothing, and Bonfield said, "scratch his name off," and I was released. I swear to the truth of the above.
Signed,
H. J. Nichols.
The following is from Capt. Schaack, a very prominent police official:
Department of Police,
City of Chicago.
Chicago, Illinois, May 4, 1893.
Mr. G. E. Detwiler, Editor Right of Labor:
Dear Sir: In reply to your communication of April 13, I will say that in
